Officials Test For, But Doubt, Polio In Haiti

Janika Faneus is fed by her mother while receiving treatment for cholera at a MSF, Doctors Without Borders cholera clinic in Saint-Marc, Haiti, Saturday Jan. 22, 2011. The cholera epidemic that killed nearly 4,000 people, is claiming fewer victims, with a sharp drop in new cases everywhere from the Artibonite Valley to the crowded urban slums. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Jan 24, 5:15 PM EST

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Health officials are looking into the cases of four people who became paralyzed in northwestern Haiti while recovering from cholera.
The experts are trying to determine if the patients in Port-de-Paix were sickened by polio.

Local health authorities reported suspected cases on Jan. 10. Of four showing paralysis three died and one is hospitalized in the capital.

Officials from the Pan American Health Organization, Haiti’s Ministry of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they doubt polio is the cause.